Ep. 25: The Immigrant Hustle That Built a Global Brand | Matt Preschern
Hey everyone, Umer here!
Real change usually starts when life interrupts the plan you thought you were following.
In this conversation with Matt Preschern, the path was not just about becoming a global CMO, building a career, or writing a book. It was about immigration, crisis, health, faith, recovery, and choosing to live differently when life forced him to slow down.
“Never waste a good crisis.”
Here’s what I learned.
The Land of Opportunity
Matt’s path began as a first-generation immigrant who saw America as a place where possibility felt real. He came with education, ambition, and not much else, but what stood out was how deeply he believed opportunity was tied to personal effort.
“If you are willing to apply yourself, work hard, and have a little bit of belief that something good will happen, and you stick with it, I think there’s only upward mobility.”
That line captures so much of his story. Opportunity was not handed to him fully formed. It came through minimum wage work, uncertainty, and the willingness to start wherever the door opened.
Starting Small
One of the strongest parts of the conversation was hearing that Matt’s career did not begin with a big title. It started with a research assistant position for minimum wage after business school, during a recession, when more than half his classmates could not find full-time jobs.
“The only thing I can offer you is a research assistant position.”
Instead of seeing that as beneath him, Matt treated it as a beginning. That small opportunity eventually led to UPS, and that first break became the foundation of a career that would take him through IBM, HCL, Forcepoint, CA Technologies, and NTT.
Showing Up
Sports shaped the way Matt approached work, leadership, and pressure. From soccer, he learned that no one wins alone. From tennis, he learned how to survive pressure when there is no one else to save you.
“One of the principles I followed throughout my career is you just kind of gotta show up.”
That idea stayed with me because it sounds simple, but it is not easy. Most people show up when they feel like it. Matt’s career was built on showing up when it was hard, unclear, uncomfortable, and demanding.
The Inflight Incident
Everything changed on a flight from New York to Austin. Matt was heading to plan the next stage of his CMO career when he felt a sharp pain on his right side. That moment eventually led to hearing loss, balance issues, medical treatments, and the realization that his old professional path was no longer possible.
“I’ve lost 85% of my hearing on the right side as I sit here.”
What could have become the end of his story became the beginning of a different one. He could no longer live the same way, travel the same way, or work the same way. So he chose to rebuild.
Choosing Life
After the incident, Matt reached a moment where he had to decide whether he would sit in grief or do something with it. He had the option to feel sorry for himself, but instead, he chose change.
“Are you gonna let that incident define you, and continue to wallow in it, or are you gonna take that lemon and turn it into something?”
That choice became the heart of his book, Story Time with Uncle Matt. For him, the crisis was not just something to survive. It became the reason to get healthier, leave a toxic relationship, return to faith, build a new life, and choose happiness with intention.
Making Your Luck
When asked whether his success was luck, Matt did not reject the idea. He accepted it, but added an important distinction. Luck can happen, but you can also create the conditions for luck to find you.
“I’m a big believer that you can make your luck.”
For Matt, that means choosing good energy, taking the harder path, paying it forward, and showing up consistently. It is not just hard work. It is hard work, energy, humility, and the courage to keep moving when the path is not clear.
The Power of No
Matt spoke about his relationship with the word “no” and how often immigrants, professionals, and dreamers hear it. But he learned not to treat every no as final.
“If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”
He also shared another powerful lesson: never accept no from someone who cannot say yes. That mindset is not arrogance. It is persistence, clarity, and the willingness to keep asking until you find the right door.
Values as an Anchor
Faith, values, and principles became major anchors in Matt’s recovery. After years away from church, he returned after the incident and described faith as something deeply connected to values, ethics, and how we treat people.
“Your values are what keeps you going. Your values is what anchors you.”
That was one of the strongest lessons from the conversation. Tough decisions should not be driven by pressure, fear, or convenience. They should be driven by the values you claim to live by.
Quiet Strength
When the conversation turned to ego, Matt spoke about the people who impressed him most throughout his career. They were not the loudest people in the room. They were the ones with quiet strength.
“They don’t feel the need to talk. They don’t feel the need to show off. They don’t feel the need to prove themselves.”
That idea summed up so much of the episode. Real success does not always need to announce itself. Sometimes it looks like humility, calm leadership, good relationships, and the ability to stay grounded when life changes around you.
If this resonated with you, the full episode goes deeper into immigration, career growth, crisis, recovery, faith, positive energy, and what it really means to choose life when the path changes unexpectedly.
Watch Full Episode
Thanks for tuning in. I hope this episode encourages you to live authentically and embrace your own path with resilience.
Best,
Umer Farooque
Host, The Path We Choose
